When Do Crabapple Flowers Bloom? A Detailed Guide to the Blooming Period

When do crabapple flowers bloom? Different varieties of crabapple bloom at different times. The main types of crabapple include begonia, wax begonia, Rieger begonia, Malus spectabilis, Chaenomeles speciosa (flowering quince), Malus halliana (hall crabapple), and Chaenomeles cathayensis (Chinese flowering quince), among others.

When do crabapple flowers bloom?

Because crabapple varieties differ, their blooming times also vary.

1. Malus spectabilis: blooming period in April   

2. Malus halliana (hall crabapple): blooming period March--April.

3. Chaenomeles speciosa (flowering quince): blooming period March to April.

4. Chaenomeles cathayensis (Chinese flowering quince): blooming period in April.

5. Wax begonia: in spring and autumn.

How can you encourage crabapple flowers to bloom?

1. Watering and fertilizing

Watering should be done so that the potting soil stays moist. In dry weather and the height of summer, you also need to spray water on the leaves and the ground; raising air humidity is good for growth. Avoid waterlogging in the pot and rain exposure, otherwise the roots rot easily. In winter, the potting soil is best kept slightly on the dry side; every 7 days spray the leaves and surroundings with clean water, which both increases humidity and keeps the leaves clean. During the growing period, apply diluted cake fertilizer water about once every 10 days; during the bud stage, apply a quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer as a top dressing. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash the fertilizer solution onto the leaves; do not fertilize during the blooming period or in winter and summer.

2. Light and temperature

The suitable temperature for the growth of Begonia coccinea (cane begonia) is 18~20°C, with a well-ventilated environment that has scattered light. In hot seasons, measures such as shading, ventilation, and spraying water are needed; in winter, it is best to keep the room temperature above 10°C, and the plant can be placed in a sunny spot. When grown at home, during the growing season it should be placed outdoors in scattered light 1~2 times a week, and in winter it should be placed in a sunny, sheltered spot.

3. Tying and repotting

Because Begonia coccinea (cane begonia) plants are relatively tall, supports such as thin bamboo stakes are needed to prop up the branches and prevent lodging. At the same time, every spring the pot, soil, and branches need to be changed and pruned, cutting off weak branches, overlapping branches, and damaged roots. For plants that have already bloomed for 2~3 years, overly tall plants should be cut back hard, leaving only 6~10 cm of the stem, so they can sprout new branches again.